Electric toaster



3- .J.J G'OUGH 23%,640

ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed June 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS ZQG 115 a 4 60 12 .15

Feb. 2, 1943. V J. J GOUJGHY 2,309,640 ELECTRIC TOASTER Filed 'Ju ne s, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1943.

' Filed June 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1943 ELECTRIC TOASTER James J. Gough, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application June 3,1940, Serial No. 338,449 '1 Claims. (Cl. 161- 16) This invention relates to electric toasters and has more particular reference to electric toasters of the type having a bread receiving tray or trays vertically shiftable to carry the bread between the toasting elements.

An object of the invention is to improve the construction and decrease the manufacturing cost of toasters'of this type. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide in a toaster of this type a timing control and to provide independent but simultaneously actuatable members to set the timing control and shift the article receiving tray or trays into toasting position.

A further object of the invention isto provide in a clock controlled toaster of this type independent, manually operable members which may be simultaneously actuated to move the 'article receiving tray or trays into toasting position and to set the clock control and wherein the manually operable member for setting the clock control is itself controlled 'by the clock to effect an instantaneous release of the other manually operable member after the lapse of the predetermined adjustable period 01' time whereby the article receiving tray or trays is released by s'nap action for movement to non-toasting position.

The invention has for another object the pro.- vision ofa clock control and release mechanism mounted in an end chamber formed by the walls defining the external casing and the toaster chamber whereby the structure may be simple and its manufacturing cost materially reduced as compared with similar toasters heretofore known.

A further object of the applicants invention is to provide in a toaster of this type a casing construction formed'of sheet metal stampings which may be readily assembled and interlocked at a minimum manufacturing expense.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a casing construction for a toaster of this type wherein means is provided for creating an updraft of air through the toasting chamber or chambers for insuring uniform toasting of each article and for minimizing the differences in the degree of toasting of successively toasted articles. v

The applicant's invention also contemplates the provision of readily releasable crumb receiving means underlying the tray or forming the bottom wall of the toaster chamber or chambers and being spaced when in operative position from its mounting wall so as to provide ventilating openings insuring maintenance of the tray in a relatively cool condition and facilitating an updraft of air through the toasting chamber.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when v taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toaster embodying the invention;

.Fig. 2 is a. fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the controls in the different operating positions;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 t

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the toast carriage and operating arm;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the control member of carriage;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view .of the latch for the toast carriage;

Figs. 9,- 10 and 11 are fragmentary vertical sections similar to Fig. 5, .but with the parts in different positions of operation;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the line lZ-IZ of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken along the line l3|3 of Fig. 11.

As shown in Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention comprises a pair of pan-shaped, sheet metal stampings forming opposed side members 2 and 4. These side members are fastened in any convenient manner as by screws 6 passing through the bottom flanges of the members and received in spaced mounting bars 8 of any suitable heat insulating material whereby the toaster casing is spaced vertically from the surface or table on which it is used. The relatively large space thus provided between these mounting bars 8 permits a substantial circulation of air beneath the casing, to thus prevent overheating of the surface or table upon which the toaster is used. The upper intumed flange of each of the side members is formed to provide an upstanding flange or head I ll interlocking with the downtumed peripheral flanges I 2 of a central substantially U-shaped sheet metal stamping or casing member [4. The interlocking of the flanges l0 and I2 secures the casing members 2, l and it against outward lateral displacement.

At its lower ends, the central casing member I4 is turned inwardly to provide flanges I8 fastened as by screws I8 to the intumed flanges 28 of a sheet metal plate 22 forming the bottom for the toasting or heating chamber. The bottom plate 22 is preferably formed with a vertical peripheral flange 24 integrally connecting the upper plate portion with the inturned flanges 20 so as venient manner as for example by depending lugs 84 extending through openings in the bottom plate and twisted for retention therein. The heating elements 30 and 32 may be of conventional structure and preferably of sheet-like formation secured between hanger bars or clips 38 having reduced ends received in suitable apertures in the end plates 28 and 28. The heating chamber is preferably subdivided by a sheet-like heating element 88 disposed centrally of the chamber and mounted on the end plates 28 and 28 in a manner similar to the outer heating elements 30 and 82.

The top of the toaster as formed by the central casing member I4 is provided with openings 48 into the toast chamber or chambers. The edges of the openings 40 are defined by depending flanges 42, the longitudinally extending ones of which provide mounting means for the usual guard wires 44 which extend over the heatin elements and prevent the toast from engaging such elements. At their lower ends the guard wires 44 may be secured to any suitable transverse mounting strip not shown.

A toaster carriage or tray 48 comprises a sheet metal plate 48 (Figs. 4 and 6) having-perpendicular, perforated aligned lugs 80 and 82 slidably mounting the toast carriage on a rod 84 (Figs. 3 and 4) extending vertically of the toaster casing and located between the partition 28- and a vertical partition 88. The partition 28 extends between the side walls 2 and 4 of the toaster casing and between the bottom plate 22 and the top wall of the casing. At its lower end the partition 28 may be secured to the bottom plate 22 as by forwardly and downwardly projecting lugs 58 passing through the bottom plate and twisted to hold the partition in place. At its top edge the partition 88 is formed with an inwardly turned portion 88 fastened to the partition 28 in any suitable manner. I

The toast carriage 48 carries toast receiving shelves or trays 82 passing through a suitable opening or openings in the partition 28 and into the toasting chambers. At their outer ends the shelf members or bars 82 are bent downwardly and spot-welded or otherwise fastened to the plate 48. An operating arm of sheet metal has a portion 84 which passes through a slot in the plate 48 and has its bent-over end spot-welded or otherwise fastened to the inner surface of this plate. The arm portion 84 extends outwardly from the plate 48 at right angles thereto and passes through a slot 88 in the partition plate 88.

The operating arm includes a portion 88 extending downwardly fromthe arm portion, 84 substantially parallel to the outer wall of the toaster casing and an outwardly bent portion 10 extending out of the toaster casing through a slot I2 in one end wall of the casing. An operating knob or handle I4 is secured, to the outer end of the portion 10 of the operating arm.

A dash pot I8 of suitable construction in which a spring or the like resists an upward movement of a plunger I8 is mounted on the partition 28. or the partition plate 58, in position where its plunger 18 is engaged by a portion of the carriage 48, as for example, one of the shelves 82 as shown in Fig. 4, as the carriage approaches its upper limit of movement to project the toast out of the openings 40 in the casing. The toast carriage is returned to this upper non-toasting position by a coil spring having its upper end secured to the plate portion 80 of the partition 58 and its lower end secured to an inwardly bent lug 82 struck from the lower edge of the plate 48 of the toast carriage 48.

The bottom part of the toast chamber or chambers is partially closed by a detachable, generally pan-shaped tray 84, Figs. 3 and 4, having a rear flange portion 88 oflY-set upwardly from the bottom of the pan and resting upon a downwardly off-set flange or lug 88 'of the bottom plate 22. A cap screw 80 secures the opposite side of the pan 84 to the bottom plate 22 and is preferably soformed that the pan cannot be pulled up tightly against the bottom plate, but

an opening is maintained between the pan and the bottom plate, which opening preferably extends around three sides at least of the pan so that a relatively large amount of air may pass between the pan and the bottom plate and upwardly through the toasting chambers. Thus the pan is maintained relatively cool and the heat within the toasting chambers is relatively rapidly dissipated. between toasting operations.

This insures a relatively high degree of uniformity in the toasting of successive slices. The pan or tray 84 of course provides readily detachable crumb-receiving means underlying the toast chamber so that the crumbs from the toast will not collect, -as formerly, upon parts of the toaster to which access cannot readily be had for cleaning purposes, but will collect upon the detachable pan which may be readily removed and cleaned.

Latching means are provided for retaining the toast carriage in its lower, toasting position. This latching means comprises a latch bar, plate or lever 82 pivotally secured to the outer surface of the partition 58 as by a screw or pin 84. A

spring 88 having an intermediate portion coiledabout a pin 88 carried by the latch lever and its opposite ends secured-by lugs I88 and I 02 to the partition plate 88 normally urges the latch lever in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figs.

' 5, 9, 10 and 11 and into, the path of the portion 84 of the toast carriage operating arm.

The latch lever is provided with ashoulder I84 for engaging the portion 84 of this toast carriage operating arm to hold the toast carriage in its lower toasting position. The latch lever is also provided with an outwardly extending free end portion or lug I88 adapted to be engaged by a mechanism for releasing the latch from the toast carriage to permit the carriage to move under the action of the spring to its upper, non-toasta ing position. Swinging of the latch lever 82 is limited by a ing I08 formed on the latch lever and received in an opening H8 in the partition plate 58.

The latch lever 82 is released and normally retained in an inactive position by a latch releasing mechanism II 2 which comprises a sheet metal carriage II4 (Fig. '7) slidably mounted, as by the perforated ears or lugs I I6, on a guide rod H8.

The guide rod II8 extends vertically in the space between one end wall of the toaster casing and thepartition plate 56 as shown in Fig. 3.

This rod is mounted on the outwardly turned ears I20 of a generally U-shaped bracket I22 (Fig. of sheet metal fastened to the partition plate 56. The carriage II4, which forms a means for setting the latch releasing mechanismI I2 and the clock controlled mechanism I24, has an outwardly-turned arm I26 formed integrally with a portion I28 which extends out of the toaster casing through a slot I30. The extending end I28 has secured thereto an operating knob or handle I32, which, when the carriage H4 and the carriage 46 are at their upper limits of movement,

lies in a common plane with the operating knob 14 for the toast carriage 46 as shown in Fig. 1. The guide rods 54 and H8 are parallel as also are the slots 12 and I30. Hence the knobs 14 and I32 may be operated simultaneously by the fin-- gers of the same hand to place the carriage 46 in toasting position and the carriage .I I4 in a posi tion setting the clock controlled mechanism I 24 and the latch releasing mechanism I I2 controlled by the clock controlled mechanism.

The clock or timing mechanism maybe of any suitable or conventional structure providing a I as by a pin I46. The latch I44 is normally urged in a clockwise direction relative to 'the lever I42 by a spring I48 coiled about the pin I46 and secured at its opposite ends to the lever I42 and latch- I44. A'cam I50 for releasing the latch I44 from the keeper I is formed integrally with a lever I52, also loosely journaled on the shaft I38. The cam face I54 of the cam I50 is formed as a surface of constantly increasing radius from the axis of the shaft I38 in the direction of counterclockwise rotation of the gear I36, the keeper I40, and the latch lever I44.

The latch I44 carries at its outer end a pin I56 adapted to extend over and engage the cam face I54 of the cam I50 and is also provided with a latching nose I58 engageable with the radial shoulder I60 of the keeper I40. I

The clock or timing mechanism and the clock 1 controlled mechanism I24 maybe mounted in any suitable and convenient housing I62 fastened to the partition plate 56 and disposed between this plate and the adjacent outer end wall. of the toaster casing. I

The cam I50 is adjustable to determine the I length of the toasting interval by means of an operating knob I64 (Figs. 1 and 3) secured to the outer-end of a rod I66 journaled in a bracket I secured to the partition plate 56 and/or the bottom plate 22 in the space between the partition 56 and theadjacent end wall of the toaster casing. The rod I66 carries a lever orcrank I10 to which is pivoted a link I12 that is in turn pivoted at its other end to the cam lever I52. l

The clock controlled mechanism I24 is connected to the carriage II4 through a linkage comprising a lever I14 pivoted at one end to the m Fig. 5.

carriage as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 to 11. The lever I14 is pivoted at its opposite end-to a lever I16 pivoted as at I18 adjacent its opposite end to the frame I of a switch mechanism I82. The lever I16 is fabricated to provide a latch operating finger I84 adapted to engage the finer I06 of the main'latch bar or lever 92. The

latch finger may bemade integrally with the lever I 16 or may be formed in a separate piece recessed in its inner. face to receive one end of the lever and fastened thereto as by the screw I86, the latch finger piece also forming the pivotal connection between the lever I16 and the lever I14 as atthe point I88. The link I joins the lever I16 and the lever I42.

A spring I92 having its mid portion coiled.

about the pivot pin I 18 is secured at one end to the frame I80 of the switch mechanism I02 and at itsother end to the lever I16. This spring urges the lever I16 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I18 as seen in Fig. 5 and urges the latchfinger I04 and the carriage II4 to their upper position as shown in said figure. This spring also urges the latch I44 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown The switch mechanism I02 may be of any suitable conventional structure, butpreferably comprises a pair'of contacts I94 spaced upon the frame in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawings to receive therebetween similarly spaced electrically connected rollers I96 carried by. a member I 98. The member I 98 moves from p the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Figs. 9 to 11 along the surface of the insulating and roller guiding piece 200. The member I98 has a bifurcated portion 202 receiving between the furcation a pin 204 carried on the lug 206 formed on the lever I16. A spring 208 encircles the blfurcated portion 202 of the member I98 and presses against this member and against the pin 204. As the lever I 16 is moved in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 5, the pin 204 causes a compression of the spring 200 until the line of the pin 204 and rollers I96 passes from one side of the-pin I18 to the other and the member I90 then .snaps from the position shown" in Fig. 5 to that shown in Figs. 9-to 11 to cause the rollers to snap into engagement with the contacts I94. As the lever I16 swings in the opposite or counterclockwise direction under the control of the time controlled mechanism :I24, the switch member I98 similarly snaps from engagement with the contacts I94 as shown in Figs. 9 to 11 into the circuit breaking position as shown in Fig. 5.

' As the carriage H4 is moved downward'y to operate the switch mechanism I02 to set the timing mechanism, the lever I42 is moved in a clockwise direction to cause the latch I 44 to move over the cam I50 and to engage with the shoulder I60 of its keeper I40 and the tail piece or lug 2I0 formed on the latch I44 engages the rear radial edge 2I2 of the-keeper I40 to move the keeper clockwise with the latch and set the timing. mechanism.

directy to one end of one of the heating elements the other conductor is connected to one of the switch contacts I94. The other switch con- 'tact I94 is connected as by the wire 2I6 to one end of another of the heating elements, the heat-.

ing elements being connected in series between one conductor of the cable 2I4 and the wire 2 I 6.

I as follows: The sets of heating elements 30, 32

and 38 are secured to the partition plates 26 and 28 as by twisting the outwardly extending ends of the upper and lower hanger bars of these heating elements to hold the heating elements against lateral movement relative to these partition plates. The partition plates 26 and 28 may be secured to the bottom plate 22 as by twisting the depending lugs 34.

The toast carriage 46 is mounted on its guide rod 64 and the guide rod fastened in a suitable manner to its mounting lugs formed on the partition plate 56. The operating arm for the toast carriage is then positioned in its slot 66 of the partition 56 and spot-welded to the plate 46 of the toast carriage. The partition plate 56 is then secured to the bottom plate 22 and to the partition plate 26 as by twisting over lug 56 formed on the plate 56 and which extend through openings in the bottom plate 22 and the partition plate 26. Before the'plate 56 is positioned on the bottom plate, the' bracket I22 for the carriage II4 is fastened to the outer surface of the plate 56 and the dash-pot I6 is secured to the inner surface of this plate. The timing mechanism in its housing I62, the time controlled mechanism I24, the switch mechanism I62 and the adjusting rod I66 are then mounted on the outer side of the partition plate 56 and the various links and levers connecting these mechanisms and also the latch lever 92 are properly connected and mounted on the plate 56.

The side forming plates 2 and 4 are first mounted on the mounting bars 8 as by the screws 6 and are then positioned to abut opposite edges of the partition plates 26, 28 and 56. The connections are effected between the switch mechanism, the supply cord, and the heating elements.

and the casing member I4 carrying the knob 2I6 is positioned so that its marginal flanges I2 overlie the marginal flanges I of the side pieces 2 and 4 and is fastened to the bottom plate as by the screws I6. The knobs I4 and I 32 are secured to the projecting ends I0 and I28 of the carriages 46 and H4, and the knob I64 is secured to the outer end of the rod I66. The guard wires 44 may be secured to the central frame casin I4 either before or after its assembly with the other parts of the toaster casing. To complete the toaster, the crumb tray 64 is now positioned with its flange or lugs 86 overlying the flange or lugs 88 of the bottom plate 22 and fastened to the bottom plate in. spaced relation by the screw 60.

The operation of applicant's toaster is as-follows: The toast carriage 46 being in its upper,nontoasting position,in which position it is held by the spring 60, is moved downwardly by manipulation of the knob or handle 14. The knob or handle I32 issimultaneously manipulated with the knob I4. and by the fingers of the same hand, to move the carriage I I4 to its lowermost position as clockwise directionso that the shoulder I04 overlies the arm portion 64 of the toast carriage as shown in Fig. 10 and holds the toast carriage in its lowered position.

The downward movement of the carriage II4 causes the lever I'I6 to swing in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 5 and 9 to 11 to the position shown in Fig. 9.

In moving to this position, the lever I16 causes the contact carryingmember I66 to snap into engagement with the contacts I84 to complete the circuit for the heating elements of the toaster and this lever I16 also causes the lever I42 to move in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 10, in which the tail piece 2I0 of the latch I44 engages the edge 2I2 of the keeper I40 to set the timing mechanism. The toasting operation is now started.

. The timing mechanism now causes the gear I36 and the keeper I40 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Under the urge of the spring I92, the levers I16 and I42 also rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the nose I58 of the latch I44 is maintained in engagement with the shoulder I60 of the keeper I40. As the latch I44 moves in this counterclockwise direction with the keeper, the pin I56 engages and traverses the cam face I54 of the cam I50. This cam causes the latch I44 to swing in aicounterclockwise direction relative to the lever I42 and to be released from the keeper I40 after the desired time interval has elapsed. 'Upon release of the latch I44 from the keeper I40, the spring I92 causes a rapid movement of the lever I16 which'snaps shown in Fig. 9. The downward movement of the toast carriage 46 carries the portion 64 of its operating arm beneath the latching shoulder I04 of the latch lever 02 and under the action of its spring 06, the latch lever swings in a counterthe switch member I66 out of engagement with the contacts I 94,and the latch finger I84 into engagement with the tongue I06 of a latch lever 92, thus breaking the electrical circuit to the toaster'and snapping the latch lever 92 out of engagement with the operating arm portion 64 of the toast carriage so that the toast carriage moves quickly upward to project the toast out of the openings 40 of the toaster casing.

As'the toast carriage 46 approaches its upper non-toasting position, its speed of upward movement is checked by the dash-pot 16 as will be evident herein. It will be seen that during a toasting operation and as the latch releasing'mechanism I24 under the control of the timing mechanism moves in a counterclockwise direction, the carriage II4 moves upwardly along its guide rod H6 at a slow rate determined by the speed of the timing mechanism. Fig. 11 illustrates the position or the mechanism at the instant preceding the release of the latch I44 from the keeper I40. It will be seen that the carriage II4 has moved upwardly a substantial distance relative to the toast carriage 46, but the latch finger I64 which is also moved upwardly with the carriage is still a substantial distance below the operating tongue I06 of the latch lever 62 so that when during the next instant the latch H4 is released from the keeper, the latch finger I84 may attain, before striking the tongue I06, a suflicient velocity to effect substantial instantaneous releaseof the latch lever 92 from the toast carriage.

With this construction, the knob I64 may be used not only to adjust or predetermine the toast- .ing interval, but may also be used to release the I64 isrotated to rotate the rod I66 in a. counterclockwise direction as seen in Figs. 5 and 9 to 11.

This effects a clockwise rotation of the cam I50 so that it engages the pin I56 of the latch I44 and releases this latch from the keeper I40. Release of the latch I44 and the keeper I40 noweffects release of the latch 92 from the toast carriage 48 and an opening of the switch mechanism I82 as previously described. I

It will be seen from the foregoing description that applicant has provided an electric toaster which is economical to manufacture; in which independent but simultaneously actuatable members are provided to set the timing control and shift the article-receiving tray or trays to toastreceiving position; in which the manually operable member for setting the clock control is itself controlled by the clock to effect an instantaneous release of the other manually operable member after the lapse of the predetermined toasting interval; in which the adjustable time setting control also may be operated to release the'toast carriage and terminate the toasting operation at any time during a toasting operasaid latch releasing mechanism with said latching means whereby to move said latching means into a released position.

3. In an electric toaster, a casing, a manually operable slice-receiving carriage shiftable from a non-toasting to a toasting position relative to the casing, means for latching said carriage in toasting position, means for returning said carriage to non-toasting position upon release of said latching means, latch releasing mechanism, timing mechanism, means operated by said latch releasing mechanism upon movement in one direction for setting said timing mechanism and releasably connecting said timing and latch releasing mechanisms, said latch releasing mechanism being movable in the opposite direction under the control of said timing mechanism, a

tion; in which the clock control and release mechanism is mounted in an end chamber formed by the walls defining the external casing in the toasting chamber; in which the toaster casing is formed'entirely of sheet metal stampings which are readily assembled and interlocked at a minimum manufacturing'expense; in which means is provided for creating a suflicient updraft of air through the toasting chamber or chambers toinsure uniform toasting of successive articles; and in which readily releasable crumb-receiving means is provided extending over the entire bottom area of the toasting chamber or chambers.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages; and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In an electric toaster, a casing, an articlereceiving tray shiftable from a non-toasting position to a toasting position relative to said casing, means for latching said tray in toasting position, operating means adapted to engage the latching means to release said latching means, time control means locking said operating means out of engagement with said latching means, and adjustable means engaging and releasing said locking means after a predetermined adjusted time interval to release said operating means for operative engagement with said latching means to move said latching means into a released position. I

2. In an electric toaster, a casing, an articlereceiving tray, a rectilinearly shiftable carriage carrying said tray between non-toasting and toasting positions relative to the casing, means urging said carriage and tray into non-toasting position, meansfor latching said carriage and tray in toasting, position, latch releasing mechanism movable in one direction to engage and re lease said latching mean's, timing mechanism controlling the movement of said latch releasing mechanism in said direction, separate manually operable members constructed and arranged'for simultaneous manipulation by one hand to move said carriage and tray into toasting position and setting said timing mechanism, and adjustable 1 means releasing said latch releasing mechanism from. control of said timing mechanism after a predetermined time interval for engagement of second rectilinearly shiftable carriage manually operable simultaneously with said toast carriage for moving said latch releasing mechanism in the first-mentioned direction to set said timing mechanism and releasably connect said timing and latch releasing mechanisms, and independently adjustable means for operating said releasable connecting means to disconnect said latch releasing and timing mechanism and means operatively connected to said latch releasing mechanism for snapping said latch releasing mechanism into engagement with said latching means upon release. of said latch releasing mechanism from said timing mechanism whereby to move said latching means into a released position.

4. An electric toaster comprising an electrical heating. means, a slice support shiftable between non-toasting and toasting positions relative to said heating means, means for maintaining said heating means normally de-energized and the slice support in non-toasting position, latching means for securing said slice support in toasting position, time controlled latch releasing mechanism for operating said latch means to release the. shoe support, independent manually operable members simultaneously actuable'and means actuated by and requiring a full stroke of both said manually operable members for all time settings for moving the slice sup-port into toasting position and for eifecting engagement of the latching means and for energizing said heating means and setting said time controlled latch releasing mechanism.

5. In an electric toaster, a casing, an articlereceiving tray shiftable from a non-toasting position to a toasting position relative to said casing, means for latching said tray in toasting position, timing mechanism, latch operating means adapted upon movement in one direction to set said timing mechanism and adapted to move in the opposite direction under the control of said timing mechanism, releasable means for means from said timing mechanism at any time during a toasting operation.

6. In an electric toaster, a casing, a slice receiving carriage rectilinearly shiftable from a non-toasting to a toasting position relative to the casing, spring means for moving said carriage from toasting-to non-toasting position, a

pivoted latch spring-pressed into engagement with said carriage to retain the carriage in toasting position, a control carriage independent of said slice receiving carriage, a switch for controlling the toaster, timing mechanism, a lever connected to said switch and connected to said second carriage for closing said switch upon downward movement of the second carriage, a latch keeper operated by said timing mechanism, a latch constructed to move said keeper in one direction to set said timing mechanism and movable in the opposite direction with said keeper under the control oi said timing mechanism, connections from said latch to said lever for moving said latch in said one direction upon depression said second carriage, a stationary but adjustable cam constructed to engage and release saidlatch from said keeper, means for adjusting said cam to preset the time of release ot-said latch and thereby determine the toasting interval, and independent manually operable members for said slice receiving carriage and said control carriage, saidmanually operable members being disposed in substantially abutting relation in a common plane when the carriages are in elevated position for simultaneous depression by the fingers of one hand.

7. In an electric toaster, a casing, a slice receiving carriage rectilinearly shiitable from a non-toasting to a toasting position relative to the casing. spring means for moving said carriage from toasting to non-toasting position, a

pivoted latch spring-pressed into engagement with said carriage to retain the carriage in toasting position, a control carriage independent of said slice receiving carriage, a switch for controlling the toaster, timing mechanism, a lever connected to said switch and connected to said adjustable cam constructed to engage and rea lease said latch from said keeper, means for ad- Justing said cam to preset the time oi release oi said latch and thereby determine the toasting interval, and independent manually operable members for said slice receiving carriage and said control carriage, said manually operable members being disposed in substantially abutting relation in acommon plane when the carriages are in elevated position for simultaneous'depression by the fingers of one hand, said cam being constructed for adjustment during the operation of said timing mechanism to ermit manual ter- 'mination oi. the toasting interval.

JAMES J. GOUGH. 

